ECOWAS Orders Deployment of Standby Force to Niger

Yesterday, 10^th August 2023 the ECOWAS Heads of State held a second extraordinary summit on the Political situation in Niger directing its “Chiefs of Defence Staff to immediately activate the ECOWAS Standby Force”. The extraordinary summit on the Niger Coup is the second meeting converging ECOWAS Heads of State on the issue. The first Extraordinary Summit featured the unprecedented declaration by ECOWAS to use Military Force if the Coup Leaders fail to reinstate currently hostage Nigerien President Mohammed Bazoum within 7 days. After Nigerien Coup Plotters refused to meet a number of delegations to dialogue including ECOWAS and the United States, the ECOWAS Heads of State met yesterday and published this communique.

ECOWAS Seven Day Ultimatum and President Adama Barrow’s Statement on Niger

By ECOWAS

1. The Authority of Heads of State and Governments of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) convened an Extraordinary Session in Abuja, Nigeria on 10 th August 2023, under the chairmanship of H.E. Bola Ahmed TINUBU, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Chair of the ECOWAS Authority.
2. The Extraordinary Summit was convened as a sequel to the recent one held on 30th July 2023, following the illegal detention of President Mohamed BAZOUM by members of the Presidential Guard in the Republic of Niger on 26^th July 2023.
3. Present at the Summit were the under-listed ECOWAS Heads of State and Government or their duly mandated representatives:

• H.E. Patrice TALON, President of the Republic of Benin.
• H.E. Alassane OUATTARA, President of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire.
• H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa AKUFO-ADDO, President of the Republic of Ghana.
• H.E. Umaro Sissoco EMBALO, President of the Republic of Guinea Bissau.
• H.E. Bola Ahmed TINUBU, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
• H.E. Macky SALL, President of the Republic of Senegal.
• H.E. Julius Maada BIO, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone.
• H.E. Faure Essozimna GNASSINGBE, President of the Togolese Republic.
• H.E. Mamadou TANGARA, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambian Abroad;
• H.E Amb. Dee-Maxwell SAAH KEMAYAH Snr., Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Liberia;
• H.E. Hassoumi Massaoudou, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Niger representing President Mohamed Bazoum
• H.E. Belarmino M. SILVA, Ambassador of Cabo Verde to the Federal Republic of Nigeria and ECOWAS, the Republic of Cabo Verde.

4. The Summit was also attended by:

• H.E. Evariste Ndayishimiye, President of the Republic of Burundi.
• H.E. Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, President of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania.
• H.E. Dr Omar Alieu TOURAY, President of the ECOWAS Commission.
• H.E. Leonardo Santos SIMÃO, Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel and Head of UNOWAS.
• H.E. Amb. Adeoye BANKOLE, Commissioner for Peace and Security representing the Chairperson of the African Union Commission.

The Authority, having:

5. Considered the Memorandum presented by the President of the ECOWAS Commission on the current situation in the Republic of Niger, as well as ECOWAS engagement since the last Extraordinary Summit, including the reports of the Special Envoys of the Chair to Niger and various other places;
6. Carefully considered the Report and Recommendations of the ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff;
7. Extensively discussed the latest development in Niger since the last Extraordinary Summit held on 30th July 2023;
8. Noted that all diplomatic efforts made by ECOWAS in resolving the crisis have been defiantly repelled by the military leadership of the Republic of Niger;
9. Taken note of the expiration of the one-week ultimatum given for the restoration of constitutional order in the Republic of Niger;
10. Decide as follows:
    1. Reiterate its strong condemnation of the attempted coup d’état and the continued illegal detention of President Mohamed BAZOUM, his family, and members of his government;
    2. Further Condemn the condition in which President Bazoum is being detained and hold the CNSP fully and solely responsible for the safety, security and physical integrity of President Bazoum and members of his family and Government;
    3. Uphold all measures and principles agreed upon by extraordinary summit held on Niger on 30th July 2023
    4. Underscore the determination of the ECOWAS Authority to keep all options on the table for the peaceful resolution of the crisis,
    5. Enforce all measures, in particular, border closure, and strict travel bans and asset freeze on all persons, or groups of individuals whose actions hinder all peaceful efforts aimed at ensuring the smooth and complete restoration of constitutional order;
    6. Warn member states who, by their action directly or indirectly, hinder the peaceful resolution of the crisis in Niger about the consequences for their action before the Community;
    7. Call on the African Union to endorse all the decisions taken by ECOWAS on the situation in Niger;
    8. Further call on all partner countries and institutions, including the United Nations, to support ECOWAS in its efforts to ensure a quick restoration of constitutional order, in conformity with its normative instruments;
    9. Direct the President of the Commission to monitor the implementation of the sanctions;
    10. Direct the Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff to immediately activate the ECOWAS Standby Force with all its elements;
    11. Order the deployment of the ECOWAS Standby Force to restore constitutional order in the Republic of Niger;
    12. Underscore its continued commitment to the restoration of constitutional order through peaceful means.
11. The Authority expresses appreciation to H.E. General Abdulsalami A. ABUBAKAR GCFR, His Eminence Muhammadu Sa’ad ABUBAKAR, the Sultan of Sokoto, Ambassador Babagana Kingibe for the special envoy missions undertaken in Niger, Libya and Algeria, on behalf of the Chair of Authority;
12. The Authority expresses gratitude to H.E. Bola Ahmed TINUBU, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Chair of the ECOWAS Authority, for convening the Extraordinary session and for the manner in which he has been conducting the affairs of the community as Chair of Authority.

Done at Abuja, this 10th day of August 2023.

THE AUTHORITY